Category Archives: Self care

Life can be great, especially if we’ve got our ducks in a row and we’re doing the kinds of things we want to do, with the kinds of people we like, and are finding new and fulfilling reasons to get out of bed every morning and throw ourselves into the adventure of the day.

Then again, life can be pretty miserable at other times; such as when our health is faltering, and our plans aren’t bearing fruit.

While there are always steps we can take to improve things; such as refining our habits, and redecorating our homes with goods from montgomery.co.uk, it’s not uncommon to find that we often end up feeling melancholy and negative even if things are generally going pretty well.

If that sounds at all like you, here are some tips for acquiring a more positive and feel-good approach to life.

Getting in the habit of arguing with your negative thinking

At the root of much, if not all, of our pessimism and negativity, is habitual, ongoing negative thinking. This kind of negative thinking can occur at any moment, and tends to affect just about every aspect of our lives.

We may start off by having breakfast, but then notice that one piece of toast is a bit more burnt than we would have liked. “Breakfast’s ruined, I just keep messing everything up” might be the negative thought process that goes along with the event.

The psychologist Martin Seligman, famous for his work on positivity and his book “Learned Optimism” pointed out the importance of arguing against your negative thinking on a regular basis.

If you notice yourself spiralling into negative thinking, first identify the event that triggered the negative thought. Then identify the negative belief. Then identify the negative effects of that belief (depression, for example), then dispute that belief. Is there a different way of looking at things? Could you be wrong?

Remember that how you think about the world affects how you see and experience it

Studies have found evidence that the way you think about the world, and the things you pay attention to, change the way you see the world, literally.

But you don’t even need scientific studies to realise that this is true. Consider the following example:

If someone asks you to look around the room intensively for 10 seconds, and count as many blue objects as you can see, and then, once the buzzer has gone off, they ask you how many red objects you saw, what will be your answer?

Clearly, you either wouldn’t have noticed or wouldn’t have paid attention to the red objects. It’s the same with our emotions. If you look only for the negative, you won’t see the positive.

Keep reminding yourself that you don’t see the world “accurately” so you may as well see it optimistically.

Practice mindfulness meditation to get some space away from your thoughts

Mindfulness meditation is an ancient practice which has the ability to open up a bit of space between us and our thoughts, by training us to observe them in a non-judgemental way, while directing our attention towards a specific point of focus.

Many services, apps, and books exist to teach the basics of meditation.

According to research, regular meditation really can change the brain in some fundamental ways that make us feel less controlled by our thoughts.

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions this January? While the first month of the year may almost be over, it’s still important to remember to look after yourself. Of course, self-care might not always be at the top of your list of priorities, but at the end of the day, it should be one of the most important parts of your daily routine.

Looking after yourself is essential, not least because it helps to combat stress and reduce levels of anxiety. Even just a few minutes of dedicated ‘me’ time a day has the ability to do wonders for your mental and physical wellbeing – something which is increasingly important in today’s fast-paced world.

The first step towards creating a better self-care routine is to realise the need for looking after yourself. Once you understand exactly why it is so important, it’s then much easier to go about working to incorporate self-care into your daily routine.

So, to give you some inspiration and get you started on the road to a happier, more relaxed you, here are five ways you can look after yourself this year.

Pamper Yourself

There’s nothing quite like a relaxing pamper session to get you feeling good about yourself! Whether it’s a pamper night at home or with a few friends, even something as simple as a facemask and a manicure or pedicure can help you to look good and feel great. If you’re really feeling the stress, why not treat yourself to a massage or a spa day?

Indulge Your Taste Buds

When you’re feeling down, treating yourself to your favourite comfort food is a surefire way to provide an instant pick-me-up. Of course, it’s still important to eat well, but allowing yourself the occasional treat will make it seem all the more worthwhile. If drinks are more your thing, enjoying a delicious mug of luxury coffee is a great excuse to take five minutes out of your day. Click here to discover the perfect blend of coffee to suit your tastes!

Cross Something off Your Bucket List

Nowadays, almost everyone has a bucket list and the desire to mark items off the list is as strong as ever. Of course, some items are much easier to achieve than others, but the beauty of a bucket list is the freedom it allows you to work through the list in your own time. One of the most popular bucket list items is travel – whether it’s to revisit a favourite location or make new memories in a brand new part of the world, perhaps 2018 could be the year you head out on an adventure?

Make Time for the People Who Matter

When our daily lives are so busy, it can be all too easy to forget to leave time for the people who mean the most to us. Not only are friends great for having a catch-up, but positive social interaction can also bring a helpful boost to your mental wellbeing and levels of happiness. Pass the phone – it’s time to organise that long-overdue girly night!

Don’t Overwork Yourself

Last but certainly not least, it’s important to learn how to create a good balance between work and leisure time. Just as too much leisure time can leave you feeling demotivated and unsuccessful, trying to cram too much into your day and work on too many things at once can spell disaster for your peace of mind. If you are feeling stressed, it might be time to assess your workload and see what actually needs to be done. Organising things in terms of their priority order can be a great way to ensure that nothing important gets missed while leaving you the opportunity to spend some time on yourself for a change!

At the end of the day, there’s nothing that can set you up better for a long week than an hour relaxing on a Sunday night. Taking the time to do the things that you want to do is a surefire way to experience the rewards of self-care. While it may seem unnecessary to begin with, you will soon start to feel the benefits and begin the journey towards a more relaxed lifestyle.

Plus size fashion, home and lifestyle blog.

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About Me

Im so sick and tired of hearing what fat girls should and
shouldn’t be wearing...

I am a plus size makeup artist born and raised in London, I
currently wear a dress size 30 sometimes even a 32!

I dress for myself every single day, whether that be jeans
and a T-shirt or a sexy bodycon dress. I am very body positive and have never
felt the need to push my views onto anyone else, Recently though I have been
approached by a number of girls on a number of different occasions with
comments such as “I wish I had the confidence to wear a dress like that” and
similar such statements, I think it has a lot more to do with not really giving
a monkeys what other people think, especially people who have no impact on our
lives whatsoever i.e. that guy on the bus sneering at my big fat exposed arms
lol

Ok so....

There is a lot of talk about plus size women and fashion,
the internet is awash with plus size women look fabulous in the latest trends,
bright colours, prints...the lot!

I for one love this, it is long overdue, what I think we are
still not seeing enough of is plus size women on the larger end of the scale
looking just as fabulous in the latest trends. I wear a UK dress size 30 and I
am a massive fan of fashion (yes pun intended x), with that being said I dont
feel like women my size should limited in what we wear, as long as fashionable
clothes are available to us I don’t feel like society should have any bearing
on whether we purchase these items and wear them proudly.

I have decided to start a blog with the occasion vlog just
to show people that us fat girls can wear whatever we like, as long as I feel
comfortable wearing said items I will continue to wear them, this is not to say
I walk around in outrageous outfits everyday but I do like to sport the
occasional form fitting dress or expose my midriff... and I just want to show
other plus size women that we can and should wear whatever the hell we
like!!!!!!!